Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low Light Requirement: Sun Soil Moisture: Dry CaCO3 Tolerance: High Heat Tolerant: yesSoil Description: Deep, sandy or rocky soils. Conditions Comments: Indian ricegrass is very drought tolerant and useful in land reclamation projects. Remove old clumps to allow self-sown seedlings room to develop. This grass can be mowed to 8 in. in early fall. Achnatherum hymenoides is a highly drought tolerant native bunchgrass. The seed has a hard coat that prolongs dormancy, taking up to two years for an area that has been seeded to become fully established.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Indian ricegrass produces graceful inflorescence, 1 to 3 ft high & is used as an ornamental bunching grass in the landscape. Use Wildlife: Wildlife forage. Seeds are sought by birds and small mammals. Use Food: The seeds were ground for flour, mixed with water and cooked into a mush by the Montana Indians, Navajo, Hopi, Apache, Paiute, and others. Use Other: Palatable for most grazing animals, can sustain relatively high grazing pressure if it is allowed to produce enough seed for reproduction.Indian ricegrass decreases under grazing because grazing removes the seeds, and therefore plants are not replaced. Conspicuous Flowers: yesAttracts: Birds , Butterflies Larval Host: Skippers

Propagation

Description: Sow seeds 1-2 in. deep. Increase by division in early spring or fall. Seed Collection: Not Available Seed Treatment: Seeds are dormant without pretreatment. Seeds must be scarified with H2SO4 to obtain germination. Mechanical scarification is also useful. Commercially Avail: yes

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